Samuel Pyne, former Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) and a prominent candidate for the First Vice Chairmanship of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), narrowly escaped unhurt on Sunday afternoon following a vehicle crash near Tumu in the Upper West Region.
The incident occurred near Hain, a community situated between Jirapa and Tumu, while Pyne and his campaign delegation were traversing the northern corridor as part of his nationwide campaign tour.
Incident:
Narrating the ordeal to this reporter shortly after the incident, a visibly shaken Pyne explained that the driver lost control while negotiating a sharp bend, causing the vehicle to skid off the roadway and plunge into a wooded, forest area.
“By God’s grace, the vehicle managed to avoid colliding directly with any trees before coming to a stop in a swampy section of the terrain,” Hon. Pyne stated, confirming that all occupants escaped without a single injury or broken bone.
Despite the vehicle suffering multiple blown tires, the team managed to make the car roadworthy using on-board spare tires and swift local intervention.
Timely Assistance:
Being unfamiliar with the local terrain, the campaign team received immediate emergency support from the Upper West Regional Executives of the NPP, who happened to be in the area on a regional thanksgiving tour.
The regional party officials assisted Pyne’s team in extricating the immobilized vehicle from the marshy woods back onto the main road.
Reflecting on the near-miss, Hon. Pyne expressed profound relief, particularly regarding the safety of his campaign staff.
“I can confirm that we are all fine, and we intend to conclude our engagements in Tumu and the wider Upper West Region today,” Pyne said.
He added that “my immediate concern during the crash was the safety of the team members traveling with me. Working with other people’s family members comes with deep responsibility, and it would have been tragic if any of them had suffered harm.”
Campaign Tour Context
The crash occurred during the final leg of Hon. Pyne’s tour of the northern regions, which has already taken his team through the Northern, Upper East, and North East regions.
Following the completion of his itinerary in the Upper West Region, Pyne is scheduled to wrap up his northern tour in the Savannah Region on Monday before heading south.
Accompanied by a energetic delegation of youth and senior party members, Pyne’s campaign message centers on unity and organizational efficiency.
He has consistently promised to serve as a vital bridge between the party’s grassroots wings, from the youth, organizers, women’s organizers and the national headquarters, committing to lobby for adequate resources and ensure their timely disbursement for party operations.
